Angels pitcher Hector Santiago, who is 0-6 with a 5.19 ERA as a starter, will pitch out of the bullpen in an effort to get turned around. CHRISTINE COTTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

TORONTO – Lots of news flying around the Angels as they begin a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, and Manager Mike Scioscia isn’t here for any of it.

Scioscia is away for the first two games while attending his daughter’s college graduation, leaving pitching coach Mike Butcher and bench coach Dino Ebel, who will be the acting manager, to address a number of issues.

Hector Santiago has been moved to the bullpen, a reaction to his 0-6 record and 5.19 ERA. The Angels haven’t announced who will take Santiago’s spot on Tuesday, but it will be someone from Triple-A (Matt Shoemaker, Jose Alvarez, Wade LeBlanc).

Efren Navarro has been recalled from Triple-A and he’s starting in left field. He takes the roster spot of Nick Maronde, who was optioned after Wednesday's game, as the Angels go back to 12 pitchers. Navarro, an outstanding defensive first baseman, has played only 20 games in the outfield in his minor league career, but Ebel said he’s comfortable out there from also playing outfield in winter ball. Navarro is expected to start one of the games this weekend in right, moving Collin Cowgill to center and giving Mike Trout a day at DH. Navarro also gives the Angels a chance to get more production from the left side of the plate, with Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun on the disabled list and Raul Ibanez slumping.

Sean Burnett will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A on Saturday, his first time pitching against another team in nearly a year. Burnett is expected to need most of a month to get ready, since he’s essentially having his spring training now.

Dane De La Rosa is not likely to be back this weekend, and maybe not even on this six-game trip, because he still needs at least one rehab appearance, Butcher said. Butcher said De La Rosa may need “one, two or five” more outings, depending on how he feels.

Of all those developments on this busy day, the biggest was the decision to remove Santiago from the rotation indefinitely.

“Hopefully he’ll have some time to clear his head and get back on track and do the things we feel that he can do,” Butcher said.

Santiago has had problems with his command and control, but he’s also admitted on at least two occasions that events beyond his control caused him to have lapses of concentration. In Seattle, he briefly lost focus after losing the potential third out of the inning when a third strike was dropped, and in New York he was upset by a balk call.

Butcher said “getting control of his emotions” is an issue for Santiago.

“He needs to be a little bit more under control,” Butcher said. “The game kind of speeds up on him. He’s got to do a better job of slowing the game down and being under control.”

Santiago, 26, who came from the Chicago White Sox with a career 3.41 ERA, said he had a feeling a change might be coming because of his struggles.

“Obviously, I didn’t want it to happen, but I was looking for something to happen the way it was going,” he said.

Santiago had pitched out of the bullpen and the rotation with the White Sox, so he said he hopes that a return to the bullpen can get him back to the form that made him a successful starter.

“Hopefully this is the key,” he said. “Go out and get that relief mentality. Go out and get one inning at a time, get back in there, and hopefully finish the year in the rotation.”

Meanwhile, the pitcher at the other end of the spectrum among the Angels three young starters – Garrett Richards – will start today at 4 p.m. PT in Toronto. The Blue Jays will counter with Dustin McGowan, whose job security has also come into question lately.

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